Download What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)?

FLUTD
FELINE LOWER URINARY
TRACT DISEASE
What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)?
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, or FLUTD, is a syndrome in which the lining of the bladder becomes inflamed or painful
without any underlying causes, such as a urinary tract infection or bladder stone. Cats suffering from FLUTD will often
experience frequent and painful urination, bloody urine, and may urinate outside the litterbox. Due to pain, cats with FLUTD
may be reluctant to eat, act withdrawn, and be uninterested in their normal activities. In the most severe cases, cats with
FLUTD are completely unable to urinate. This is a life-threatening emergency; if your cat cannot urinate, it should be seen by
a veterinarian immediately.
The cause of FLUTD remains unknown, but is thought to be related to developmental changes that occur if a mother cat is
under stress while her kittens are developing. Cats who suffer from FLUTD have an abnormal bladder lining that becomes
inflamed during periods of stress. Stress for a cat can include everything from moving to shifts in the family dynamics to
changes in diet or season.
Many urinary syndromes can cause symptoms identical to FLUTD, so it is important to rule out other causes of painful, bloody
urination. Diseases such as urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney stones, or bladder masses all present similar symptoms
as FLUTD. To make a diagnosis, a variety of tests may be recommended, including:
•
Urinalysis: This test assesses the concentration of urine, screens for urine
sugar and protein, and examines the urine for the presence of abnormal
cells, crystals, or bacteria. Cats with FLUTD typically have very highly
concentrated urine and many red blood cells, but usually do not have any
bacteria present.
•
Urine culture: This is a test in which we try to grow bacteria from a urine
sample. This test is much more sensitive for diagnosing a urinary tract
infection than a urinalysis. Cats with FLUTD will usually not have any
growth of bacteria on their urine cultures.
•
Blood testing: Blood testing can be used to assess the function of major
internal organs such as the kidneys and the liver. Because bloody urine
can sometimes be a sign of difficulty clotting blood or other bleeding
disorders, the tests also tell us whether the blood is clotting normally.
•
Diagnostic imaging: X-rays are recommended to screen for the presence
of bladder stones, which cause irritation to the lining of the bladder and
painful urination. However, not all stones, nor bladder masses, are visible
on X-rays. Ultrasound of the bladder is a more sensitive test to look for
bladder stones and masses.
About FLUTD
Cause is unknown
Many conditions
share the same
symptoms as FLUTD
Diagnostic testing is
recommended
May be treated by
increasing fluid
intake, managing
pain, and reducing
stress
Once all other potential causes of bloody, painful urination are ruled out, we are left with a diagnosis of FLUTD. Treatment for
FLUTD involves three primary goals:
1. Increased water consumption: Cats in general are not very good drinkers, and most cats who are on a dry-food-only
diet are chronically dehydrated. Highly-concentrated urine is more likely to promote bladder wall irritation. The easiest
way to encourage adequate water intake is to feed cats a canned-food-only diet. For those cats that will tolerate it,
we suggest adding additional water to make their food into a “slurry.” Some cats prefer drinking water from a moving
source rather than a stagnant bowl, so consider purchasing a “pet fountain” to further encourage water consumption.
There are also prescription diets specifically formulated to encourage production of dilute urine.
4249 Bryant Ave S • Minneapolis, MN 55409
612.822.1545 • www.LakeHarrietVet.com
FLUTD
FELINE LOWER URINARY
TRACT DISEASE
2. Pain control: Bladder inflammation is very painful. To treat a flare-up of FLUTD, we may recommend medications such
as opioid-type pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs, and a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement as a possible
long-term pain management option. Normally, the bladder lining contains glucosamine and chondroitin (the same
substances present in joint cartilage), and studies have shown that the bladders of cats with FLUTD are deficient
in these compounds. Providing a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement, such as Dasuquin, may help restore these
compounds to the lining of the bladder, making it more resistant to inflammation.
3. Stress management: Stress is recognized to be an important component of FLUTD. The causes of stress in cats vary
widely, but can include: poor relationships with other cats or dogs in the home, addition or loss of a family member,
changes in schedules, or moving. For indoor-only cats, the Indoor Pet Initiative (http://indoorpet.osu.edu/) is a great
resource for learning how to reduce your cat’s stress. Feliway pheromone diffusers may also help to reduce anxiety,
particularly in a multi-cat household. There are a number of anxiety-reducing supplements and herbs, and in severe
cases we may prescribe anti-anxiety medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac).
FLUTD is a condition that cannot be cured, but in most cases the symptoms can be managed with the above
recommendations. If you feel that your cat is not responding to treatment as expected, please do not hesitate to call your
veterinarian for further advice.
4249 Bryant Ave S • Minneapolis, MN 55409
612.822.1545 • www.LakeHarrietVet.com